The US Gold Bureau has a comprehensive website. Their service is not just about providing a place for people to buy and sell gold, bullion and collectors coins. It is equally a place for education and information, providing enthusiasts with information about the history of coins and the history of minting. The United States Gold Bureau also looks at global issues, focusing not only on local coins, but also coins and deposits from all over the world. Let's take a look at some of the information about gold deposits.
Interestingly, according to the U.S. Gold Bureau, large gold deposits may not be where you expect them to be. The gold reserves that are found in countries all across the globe is tremendous and gold mining has been taking place for several hundred years now, the reality is that we haven't reached the end of the gold yet. In fact, there is probably more gold than what there are fossil fuels left on the planet.
The first of the large gold deposits, according to the US Gold Bureau, is South Africa's Witwatersrand. This is by far the largest gold deposit in the world and also the most well known. 40% of all gold mined throughout the history of gold mining has been mined in the Witwatersrand. It is believed that the ground is still full of gold and some go so far as saying that at least one third of the gold in the world has not been discovered yet. The first time they struck gold here was in 1852. However, the real gold rush didn't start until 1886, when information about gold being there became public. Interestingly, the history is that an Australian miner discovered the gold when out for a walk, staked his claim with the government and later sold it for just ten pounds. A reasonable sum of money in those days, but nothing compared to what he could have earned would he have held on to his claim. The gold rush here was much like the one in California. It took just ten years for Johannesburg to become the largest South African city, all because of the mines.
The next deposit mentioned by the United States Gold Bureau is the Olympic Dam in Australia. In 2007, a rumor started that the Olympic Dam was a deposit larger still than Witwatersrand. This was untrue, however, but it certainly is true that the Olympic Dam is a sizable deposit. In fact, it is the fifth largest in the world. However, it is also the largest uranium deposit and it is the fourth largest copper deposit. Not bad!
Then, the U.S. Gold Bureau mentions Grasberh, the Grass Mountain. Although it doesn't have the largest deposit as such, it is actually the largest gold mine in the world. This one is in Indonesia and owned mainly by an American company. However, around 10% of the mine is owned by the Indonesian government. Ertsberg, a nearby mine, was depleted completely by 1980.
Interestingly, according to the U.S. Gold Bureau, large gold deposits may not be where you expect them to be. The gold reserves that are found in countries all across the globe is tremendous and gold mining has been taking place for several hundred years now, the reality is that we haven't reached the end of the gold yet. In fact, there is probably more gold than what there are fossil fuels left on the planet.
The first of the large gold deposits, according to the US Gold Bureau, is South Africa's Witwatersrand. This is by far the largest gold deposit in the world and also the most well known. 40% of all gold mined throughout the history of gold mining has been mined in the Witwatersrand. It is believed that the ground is still full of gold and some go so far as saying that at least one third of the gold in the world has not been discovered yet. The first time they struck gold here was in 1852. However, the real gold rush didn't start until 1886, when information about gold being there became public. Interestingly, the history is that an Australian miner discovered the gold when out for a walk, staked his claim with the government and later sold it for just ten pounds. A reasonable sum of money in those days, but nothing compared to what he could have earned would he have held on to his claim. The gold rush here was much like the one in California. It took just ten years for Johannesburg to become the largest South African city, all because of the mines.
The next deposit mentioned by the United States Gold Bureau is the Olympic Dam in Australia. In 2007, a rumor started that the Olympic Dam was a deposit larger still than Witwatersrand. This was untrue, however, but it certainly is true that the Olympic Dam is a sizable deposit. In fact, it is the fifth largest in the world. However, it is also the largest uranium deposit and it is the fourth largest copper deposit. Not bad!
Then, the U.S. Gold Bureau mentions Grasberh, the Grass Mountain. Although it doesn't have the largest deposit as such, it is actually the largest gold mine in the world. This one is in Indonesia and owned mainly by an American company. However, around 10% of the mine is owned by the Indonesian government. Ertsberg, a nearby mine, was depleted completely by 1980.